Recently, AI (artificial intelligence) had a breakthrough. It can generate essays that read as if a literate human wrote them. There is a lot of speculation as to whether AI will now be able to replace humans in writing, literature, graphic arts, music, etc. Some people predict that social-media influencers will easily be replaced by AI. Will they? At this point (based on my limited and non-expert understanding of what is happening) I believe the answer is: It depends. I pred

Useful tips on how to find the perfect name for your fictional characters.

What persuasion strategies are used in the story of the binding of Isaac, and why do they work?

That’s crazy. Why would anyone want to leave paradise? Good question. If you’ve been around long enough, you’ve seen it happen. There are people who have a life that's as close to paradise as it’s going to get in this world: a high standard of living in a free country, a great family, successful career, perfect health, loyal friends – you name it. But they’re not satisfied. In fact, they’re restless and ungrateful, maybe even bitter and resentful. They want something better

If you’re a creative type, being addicted to recognition can get in the way of monetizing your creativity. You can convince yourself that recognition is enough to keep going. You might find yourself trapped in unproductive cycles of giving away your stuff at a steep discount and not getting enough in return. We’ve all seen people -- creative and non-creative alike -- who crave attention so much that they are willing to do things for free just so they’ll be in the spotlight. I

Money connects you with people who care about your work.

This talk was delivered at Kehillat Ma’arav Synagogue in Santa Monica on July 30, 2011 What I'm going to talk about today may strike you...

Understanding that there is a "sense of life" in fiction gives you a powerful tool for understanding the impact of stories.

When and how to use profanity in your writing

Word décor is trendy, but many writers avoid it. Why? What does it take for writers to use the written word as wall art?